Summary Of Why Colleges Haven T Stopped Binge Drinking

In Beth McMurtrie’s article “Why Colleges Haven’t Stopped Binge Drinking”, colleges have been and are continuing to drop the ball when it comes to stopping binge drinking by college students. McMurtrie begins the article by explaining the impact that binge drinking has on the lives of students involved. Some colleges are beginning to overlook the problem completely. It appears that the whole problem has been purposely overlooked in many instances for many different reasons. There are those out there that believe that binge drinking and college life go hand in hand and that these that partake of such will get it under control when they are ready. Bar owners, politicians, boosters and even alumni of colleges have a lot of influence on the college

She states “The first large-scale examination of alcohol uses among college students began in 1993. Run by Henry Wechsler, a social psychologist at the Harvard University School of Public Health, the College Alcohol Study surveyed 17,000 students at 140 colleges on why and how they drink” (McMurtrie). This also shows the ongoing battle colleges have had trying to control or at least maintain college students drinking. McMurtrie also states “Educators and researchers who lived through this period say a combination of exhaustion, frustration, inertia, lack of resources, and campus and community politics derailed the national conversation about college drinking. Taking on the problem proved tougher than anyone had thought” (McMurtrie). This shows the reader how overlooked and dangerous the drinking problem is. This also gives the reader insight on what causes colleges trouble to attack

She states “Fewer than half consistently enforce their alcohol policies at tailgates, in dormitories, and at fraternity and sorority houses. Only a third do compliance checks to monitor illegal alcohol sales in nearby neighborhoods” (McMurtrie). This shows the reader that while colleges are reporting increasing uses of alcohol, they are not taking the necessary precautions to try and actually put a stop to it. She then goes to show the reader the positive impact when colleges restrict access to alcohol and punish students who break their rules. She says “One project, Safer California Universities, tested a series of community-based prevention strategies, and found that the number of people getting drunk at off-campus parties and bars dropped significantly. Participating colleges used DUI checks, underage decoys, party patrols, and enforcement of local ordinances that hold hosts liable for any trouble caused by their drunken guests” (McMurtrie). This shows the reader the positive impact of maintaining and regulating